WHEN they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary last week Edie and Mike Fox told their friends they didn't want presents.

Instead, they asked them to donate pieces of silver to the Prospect Hospice.

And yesterday Edie, of Stratton, became the first Adver reader to come into our offices and make a donation to the Prospect@Home campaign.

"We decided to ask our friends to donate bits of silver for the hospice because both my mum and Mike's mum were looked after by them," said the 61-year-old.

"Mike's mum Jean wanted to stay at home, but couldn't because she lived on her own, so I think she definitely would have benefited from the Prospect@Home scheme.

"She ended up going into the hospice but they were absolutely wonderful and couldn't do enough for her or us.

"They do a fantastic job and nothing is ever too much trouble for them."

Edie donated £65 in small change that were collected by friends Vivian and Ian Ouldridge, of Wroughton and Jackie and Norman Kaye, of Liden.

"There are a lot of tacky silver wedding anniversary things in the shops, and once you've been married for 25 years there isn't a lot you need so I told them to give us money for the charity," said the retired dressmaker.

"I know it's not a lot but I know how hard it can be for these campaigns to get started.

"And I guess that every little bit does help, especially at the start."